Can someone tell me... -- Ceili Lovers Anon

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Date Posted: 14:06:19 02/28/02 Thu
Author: new to this
Subject: Can someone tell me...

I'm a little confused about the names of some things. What's the technical definition of ceili? How is that different from figures? And I know that's different from set dances, right? What do you call the 4 hand and 8 hand that's done at the Oireachtas, figures or ceili? Thanks for any clarification.

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[> I will try to give you an answer (more, long)... -- Don, 05:55:20 03/05/02 Tue

I don't think there is a universally accepted terminology. However, I can give you one take on it.

When you ask what a ceili is, I assume that what you want to know about is a "ceili dance", as against a "figure dance". Of the 30 dances described in the official handbook "Ar Rinncide Foirne" (that spelling may be wrong, plus it omits diacritical marks above some of the letters. sorry.), some of them are what are called "progressive" dances. In progressive dances, a couple (or sometimes a trio, or a set of couples) dances a series of movements with another couple, and then they move on to the next couple and dance that same series of movements again, etc. until the music stops. The series of movements is usually fairly simple, although some progressive dances, such as the Fairy Reel and The Gates of Derry, can be fairly complicated. Examples of progressive dances are The Walls of Limerick, The Siege of Ennis, The Haymakers Jig, etc.

Other dances in the handbook are called "figure" dances. In these, each couple dances the entire dance with the same group of other dancers - they don't "move on" to the next couple. The dances usually consist of a series of movements collectively called "the body", plus two or more additional series of movements called "figures". There may also be an introduction (often a lead around) and a finish. These figure dances tend to be more complicated than the progressive dances. Examples of figure dances are The Four-Hand Reel, The Eight-Hand Reel, The High-Cauled Cap, The Sweets of May, etc.

I have the impression that if the syllabus for a feis has a competition called "ceili", it probably refers to a progressive dance, of the dance school's choice. Feiseanna usually also have figure dance competitions (four-hand dance, six-hand dance, eight-hand dance.) It is not unheard of for a school to choose a progressive dance for a particular "hand" competition, for example doing The Fairy Reel for a six-hand competition, but I have the impression that this is frowned on, at least by some feiseanna/judges.

Having said all that (What?? He isn't through talking YET?), there is one other usage of the term "ceili dance" that is commonly seen. All 30 of the handbook dances, both progressive and figure, are collectively referred to as "ceili dances" to distinguish them from "country set dances", or just "set dances", which are the dances that include The North Kerry Set, The Clare Lancers Set, The Ballyvourney Jig Set, etc., etc.

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[> [> Re: I will try to give you an answer (more, long)... -- Sean, 21:08:09 10/17/02 Thu

>Don, what a great responce and post, thank you

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Re: Can someone tell me...in modern day Irish Dance Competition, Ceili usually refers to those dances from the official book. 8-Hand, 6-Hand, 4-Hand. Figures usually refer to those dances choreographed by the teachers. 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 16-Hand dances. -- xxxx, 20:55:24 09/20/02 Fri

>I'm a little confused about the names of some things.
>What's the technical definition of ceili? How is that
>different from figures? And I know that's different
>from set dances, right? What do you call the 4 hand
>and 8 hand that's done at the Oireachtas, figures or
>ceili? Thanks for any clarification.

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